Afghanistan

EU Hosts Taliban Officials for First Time

Is this engagement pragmatic humanitarian policy or a dangerous legitimization of gender apartheid?

Published 5 hours ago

EU Hosts Taliban Officials for First Time

Story

Above: An Amnesty International activist protests in front of the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels on June 23. Image credit: Nicolas Tucat/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

The EU's engagement with Taliban representatives is a pragmatic step toward addressing a real humanitarian crisis. More than 2.8 million undocumented Afghans returned from Iran and Pakistan in 2025 alone, and technical discussions on deportations of criminal offenders are a necessary part of managing that reality. The EU has backed this with over 140 million euros since 2022 to support returnees — a hallmark of a serious, accountable policy.

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Establishment-critical narrative

Inviting Taliban officials to Brussels hands a gender apartheid regime exactly the legitimacy it has craved since seizing power in 2021. The Taliban banned girls from schools, arrested women for how they dress and has met none of the EU's own benchmarks for engagement. Trading human rights principles for deportation deals sets a dangerous precedent that repressive regimes worldwide are watching closely.

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